Turn Autism Around

The four functions of behavior are what every behavior analyst looks for on a daily bases; however, I consider the last function to be the "forgotten function". Today I'm going to explain all four functions, including the forgotten function, and how they are used to lower extreme problem behaviors.

Although I have talked about stimming and scripting in previous episodes, today I go in-depth on what that really means. Every person has self-stimmed or scripted at one point, but for children with autism, it can become harmful. That's why I'm here to tell you how to combat it!

Following the previous episode, today I am very excited to interview autism attorney, Gary Mayerson. Gary founded the first law firm in the nation focused on the representation of individuals with autism. After nearly 20 years he has served on some of the most important autism-based cases, and is also the board chairman to the nonprofit organization, Job Paths.

I've worked in the autism field for over two decades; that means I've been involved in my fair share of legal disputes. I've walked away from each situation with new experiences, and from that experience, I've put together five lessons that are sure to help you the next time you find yourself fighting for your child.  

Dr. Joanne Gerenser is an SLP who has worked in her field for 38 years. She has watched the autism community grow and change, and with the divide between SLPs and BCBAs worse than ever before, she's advocating for collaboration. Join us as we discusses where the divide begins, and what we can do to bring it together.

As an autism mother, Megan's fall into the autism world is relatable and you can find pieces of yourself in her story. Her son was diagnosed with autism when he was three years-old, and she has learned to be his advocate. But as someone who had no idea what autism or ABA was, she had a lot of learning to do. Megan's initial confusion prompted her to start her own podcast called Adventures in Autis...

Deidra Darst is not only an autism mother, she's a licensed SLP and published author as well. She is also extremely passionate about ABA and making a difference in the autism community.  In this interview, she describes her fall into the autism world; what changed her opinion on ABA; and what she thinks professionals need to do to be most effective.

In this episode, we hear from Ryan O'Donnell about his efforts to communicate about the Behavioral Science field using podcasts and videos. The content he produces is varied; some being directed to parents and other caregivers and some directed to BCBAs. He also gives presentations about autism all over the world, so he's very knowledgeable about the field and where it's headed. 

There are numerous ways for grandparents of autistic children to be involved in teaching and skill development. Today's interview is with a very dedicated grandmother who found Mary's online courses and community at almost the exact time she first heard the word autism applied to her grandson. This grandmother has made great progress with the 30-month-old boy using Mary's techniques, and plans to...

If your child has autism, then they're likely prescribed certain medications. But which medications are best for your child, and which ones do more harm than good? Every person responds differently to medicine, so choosing the best one for your child may seem overwhelming. But after decades in the field I've developed strategies to keep your medication organized, and warning signs to look for when...

Dr. Coplan is the developmental pediatrician that diagnosed Lucas with mild to severe autism. Now retired, he has decades of experience and wisdom to share with you. Not only does he talk about his fall into the autism world, he also speaks about topics such as waiting lists, denial, and self-care. His mindset is refreshingly compassionate, and will remind you to take your journey day-by-day.

Every parent knows the struggle of toilet training, and that struggle can double if your child has autism. That's why I share my advice on how to toilet train your child, whether they are three years old or twenty years old, and whether they have autism or not. And if your child isn't ready to start toileting yet, that's fine too; I have advice on how to introduce them to the idea so that when the...

The more research there is on autism, the better. That's why I'm so excited to introduce my listeners to Dr. Melanie Pellechia: a full time autism researcher. After working in the autism field for nearly two decades she knows exactly what she's talking about, and she's a wealth of information; some of the stats she shares even catch me by surprise!

When your child first displays signs of autism, they are often ignored or completely missed. Sometimes they can be confused as ADHD or a speech delay. Early intervention is key, and so I'm going to go over three steps to help identify and hopefully combat your child's autism and the next steps you should take.

Lorri Unumb is a professor, lawyer, advocate, and mother of three. When her first born son was diagnosed with severe autism, she was shocked that her insurance didn't cover ABA therapy. She became an advocate for families who couldn't afford ABA therapy, and fought for two years to get state funding from South Carolina. Now she travels the country fighting for other states to have that same privil...

It's hard enough to get any child to sleep through the night, but a child with autism is much more likely to be diagnosed with a sleeping disorder. For years I gave up trying to sleep and accepted that there was nothing I could do about it—until a fellow behavior analyst gave me some advice that changed everything for my family. Now I want to tell you how you can regain all those lost hours and tr...

Every parent wants their child to succeed and, for kids with autism especially, being able to speak coherently is a huge benchmark of success. That's why I interviewed speech and language therapist, Mags Kirk. Mags has been a speech therapist since 2003, and thanks to her Talk Tools certification, she's more than qualified to share her knowledge with you and point you and your child in the right d...

Dr. Michael Murray is a respected child and adolescent psychiatrist and the Medical Director for the Autism and Developmental Disorders Clinic for Penn State Health. Dr. Murray is sharing great info in this episode that was a game changer for my own family. We're discussing medicine that can be a benefit to your own child, but we're also covering in depth a genetic test, the metabolic pharmacologi...

Theresa McKeon spent 30 years as a national gymnastics coach and was determined to find a way to speed up skill acquisition for her young gymnasts while decreasing stress and fear in the learning environment. Theresa's search for behaviorally sound techniques, clean instructions and proper timing of feedback and reinforcement led to the development of the TAGteach methodology. Theresa explains how...

For a lot of parents and professionals, talking in complete sentences is a major goal for their children and clients. But despite our good intentions, there are a lot of mishaps along the way. I'm going to share the seven biggest mistakes you're likely to make when teaching a child with autism to speak in complete sentences. Listen and learn so you can avoid some of these pitfalls.

I am interviewing Leanne Page, a certified BCBA, self-published author, and mother of two children. Leanne delves into her background as a special education teacher, her career as a BCBA, but she also shares why ABA methods are not only for children and adults with autism but can be beneficial in any type of family dynamic.

I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenna, my good friend and former client. Jenna is a fellow autism mom and her fall into our world is relatable. From the day of her son's diagnosis before his 2nd birthday to her self-care tips and routine, you'll surely find pieces of yourself throughout Jenna's story. 

Going to the dentist, using eye drops, or taking a bath might seem like mundane procedures for a typically developing person, but for those diagnosed with autism, these simple tasks can be traumatic and seem quite complex. I'm sharing a few practical steps for desensitizing your children or clients to these sorts of procedures, in order to make these situations go more smoothly for your loved one....

I'm proud to welcome my friend and colleague, Steve Ward, to the podcast. Steve has over two decades of experience in the autism field and currently works as a behavior analyst. In addition to being an accomplished author, Steve also co-owns his own consulting business, Whole Child Consulting. He has worked with teams and schools around the world, and he's here to share his experiences with you!

Sasha Long wears a lot of hats in the autism world: she is a full-time consultant, writer, and behavior analyst, plus the host of The Autism Helper podcast. She also manages to find the time to travel internationally as a speaker and consultant.  She has already had an extremely interesting career path and now she's ready to share her experiences with you, to help your child lead their happiest, m...